The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-07

since Saturday afternoon, and had not since
that time given any evidence that he recognized
any person about his bedside. Up to that time
he had been able to raise his right hand to his
head and give them to understand that he was
suffering considerable pain. but in the evening
he seemed to pass into comatose state,
his breathing was hard, and he lost
the power of moving his body. Mrs
Beecher watched by his bedside good portion
of the night, and she was relieved by her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Scoville, who arrived early last even
ing, and Colonel Henry Beecher. who was in and
out OF his fathers room during the entire night.
The medicine prescribed by the physician was
regularly administered, and Mr.. Beecher seemed
to have no difficulty in swallowing it.
DIR. Searle, his family physician. reached the
house shortly after o'clock this morning. and
after examination concluded that Mr.. Beecher
was not as we'll as last evening and it was prob
ably only question of a few hours when he
would pass away. He was not surprised at Mr..
Beecher's condition. having anticipated
unfavorable change. All efforts to
rouse Mr.. Beecher to any sense
of consciousness proved unavailine. The fam
lily were, of course, overcome with grief, it
being difficult for them to realize that there was
no hope of change for the better.
At o'clock Sunday morning there seemed to
be a change for the worse. and all the members
of the family were summoned. Breathing al
most ceased and dissolution seemed near. The
patient was wholly unconscious, but half an
hour later rally took place. AT 10 o'clock an
other alarming relapse occurred. Major Pond
took carriage and hastened to Dr. Hammond's
Office in New York, The Doctor was so engaged
that he could not leave, and he sent q request to
DR.. Todd Helmuth to go in his stead and wait
until he came. DR.. Helmu,h assented and
drove back with Major Pond, and at IL A. NJ
this bulletin was issued:
Professor Helmuth in consultation, fully confirms
the opinion of the other ply sicans. Mr.. Beecher is
gradually failing He may, however, live for several
days. w S. SEARLE NJ D.
By this time there was a crowd of several hun
dred persons around the house. who pressed
eagerly forward to scan the bulletin. Then
some of them moved sadly away to the church,
a short distance from the house. and listened to
| the mournful service which only served to re-
| mind them more forcbly of him who had been
stricken from the pulpit he had occupied SO
| long.
| An hour or so later, Dr. Hammond arrived at
| the house and consulted with Drs. Searle and
Helmuth, and a bulletin was issued, saying
that death was considered certain. but will
| probably not occur to-day.
Mr. Thomas G. Shearman and other mmedi
ate friends Of the family were admitted to the
sick-room during the day. and one after another
emerged with eyes filled with tears. In the aft
ernoon it required the services of two policemen
to keep the steps of the dwelling from being
| blocked completely by the crowd. Dr. Searle
made another call upon Mr. Beecher about
O'clock and said that he thought he was breath
| ing easier and he did not look for immediate
dissolution. 1t was his opinion that Mr.. Beech
| er would live until tomorrow .e.
Mr.. Beecher-s eldest daughter, the. wife Of thu
| Rev. Samuel Scovile, of Stamford, Conn, ar
rived at the house on Saturday night, and hel
husband and two children will Immediately fol
low The other members of the family in the
house now are Mr.. Beechers eldest son. Colone
Beecher, his wife and two daughters and SON
Henry Ward Beecher W. G. Beecher and his
wife. who live at Columbia Heights. Their sor
| Herbert, who has been teegraphed to San Fran
| cisco for, is on the ocean, between Portland
Ore, and San Francisco He is not expected t
reach New York N time TO see Mr.. Beechel
| alive, he is not due in San Francisco until to
morrow, and then he has q weeks ride before h,
can reach home. This afternoon Mr.. Chandle
and wife, Of Peelskil, arrived at the Hicks
street residence. MIR. Chandler is manager O
| Mr.. Beechers Peekskill farm
MIR. Beecher is in deeply comatose state
| ba ha
which he will never probably rally. He lie
quietly, like one in deep sleep, and gives no in
dcations of pain uneasiness. His pulls
varies from 80 to 100. At one time for severa
hours it intermitted two or three beats in eacl
minute. but this evening it has remained quit
regular and quite hard and full The tempera
ture has ranged from 100 to 1O0s and at presen
10 P. NJ stands at 1907 The respiratons mum
ber about thirty to the minute; the body an,
extremities are equally warm. The face i
flushed aud has n somewhat livid hue. He i
unable to speak or swallow anything excep
small quantities of liquid, which must be eau
tiously administered to prevent choking Dur
ing the day he has been under the constant su
pervison of his physicians. who remai
with him tonight. Dir. w. T. Hellmuth am
DR.. W. a. Hammond, of New York city. hav
each visited him to-day. Allthree medica
advisers in full and entire concord as to tn
nature and location of the disease, its presen
status the remedial measures to be employee
and as to the prognosis of the case 1t is thei
opinion that the history OF to-day confirms tn
opinions they have entertained from the begnr
ning-that recovery is not to be hoped for; thai
though the effusion of blood into the brain
now stopped, a fresh hemorrhage may at an
time occur and speedily end life. That is nc
likely to happen. SO far as present indication
are to be trusted. and should it not occur, hi
life may be spared yet several days-ho'
long depends upon his endurance and strengt